Coke-oven door operating mechanism



Nov. 14, 1939. R. BERG ET AL 2.179508 COKE-OVEN DOOR OPERATING MECHANISMI Filed May 6, 1937 4 Sheetsheet l INVENTORS. P/qG/YAE BERG, and ROSE/QTLV. CR/SZ' ATTORNEY.

Nov. 14, 1939. R. BERG ET AL OVEN DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM COKE FiledMay 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTORS. RAG/VAR 55x26, and ROBERT MCIR/$7.-

; 3 462/ a ent/1) may X ATTORNEY.

Nov. M, 1939. R. BERG ET AL 2,179,608

COKE-OVEN DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS. RAG/VAR BERG-,and ROBERT W CRIST.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 14, 1939. .R. BEKQG ET AL 2,179.608

COKE-OVEN DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. RAG/Y/JR BERQ ROBERT W CRIST.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 2,179,608 COKE-OVEN noon OPERATING MECHANISMRagnar Berg, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Robert W.,

Grist, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Koppel-a Company, a corporation ofDelaware Application May 5, 1937, Serial No. 140,980

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to the latching devices that are employedto support and hold coke oven doors in sealed position in the mouths ofcoking retort chambers and is more specifically concerned with animproved means for actuating such latching devices from a source ofmechanical power.

The invention includes among its objects the provision of a practicalapparatus, for the stated purpose, that is adapted for incorporation inthe structure of the oven door machine so that both the door-hook andthe latch-operating apparatus can be placed in operating position infront of the oven door simultaneously, thereby reducing the time fromthat which would otherwise be required to remove and replace the doorsin closed and sealed position were the latchoperating device and thedoor-hook mounted on individual supporting structures. Another object ofthe present invention is to I provide an apparatus for operating cokeoven door latches, that has as an important feature thereof meanswhereby it can automatically make compensatory adjustments within itselfthat will enable it to give satisfactory operating results even thoughthe oven door latches are not in perfect alignment with the source ofpower. An apparatus or device having such a feature will be an importantcontribution to the coking art since, as is appreciated by thoseexperienced therein, all members of a corresponding series of doorlatches at the same face of an oven battery do not lie in precisely thesame position relative to an object positioned on the door machine, inconsequence of such variable-circumstances as, un-; evenness in thetracks on which the door machine is propelled along the battery face,play of the door-hook andthe bumper-pin in their respective co-actingparts on the door, small inequalities resulting from uneven. expansionof the brickwork of the battery, and the like.

The present invention is more specifically adapted to be employed incombination vwith latching devices that are arranged to be tightened andloosened by. the rotation of some integral part thereof about its axis.said part being adapted for engagement by a driven member.

According to the present invention, a powerdriven rotatable shaft, orits equivalent, is mounted on the mechanism employed tohandle the ovendoors, and is so disposed thereon that said shaft is in approximatealignment with the corresponding latches of a series thereof along theface of the battery. The driven shaft may be adapted for rotation bywpyappropriate means, as for example by electric Fixedly mounted on saidshaft and adapt "*to rotate therewith is a device provided by theinvention and which will be hereinafter referred to as an 5 adapter. Theadapter of the invention comprises essentially, a universal jointmechanism,

a shaft means attached thereto, a plurality of springs disposed tosupport said shaft in a preferred position when it is not-operating, and10 means at the door-side of said shaft means for engaging suchrotatable member of the door latching device as is adapted to tightenand loosen it. The adapter mechanism has been especially developed toprovide a means for con- 15 necting a drive shaft, that is positioned onthe door machine, with a rotatable member of a door-latch assembly andin such manner that the former may be used to actuate the latter andwhether or not said parts are in accurate alignment. By means of thepresent improvement, it is assured that the oven door latch will beengaged by the adapter in a manner to permit free transmission of motionfrom the driven shaft to the door latch in spite of the fact that therelative positions of the latch-engaging end of the adapter" and therotatable latch part, may vary from door to door along thebattery face,for reasons'hereinbefore indicated. The invention has for furtherobjects such other improvements andsuch other operative advantages orresults as may be found to obtain in the processes or apparatushereinafter described. or claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andshowing for purposes of 'exemplification a preferred apparatus andmethod in which the invention may be embodied and practised but withoutlimiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrativeinstance or instances:

- 40 Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational section taken longitudinallyof a coking chamber equipped with an oven door of the so-calledselfsealing type andshowing a portion of a combination pusher and doormachine which is provided with the latch tightening device or adapterwconstructed in accordance with the present invention; is

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 5and showing in detail. the interior construction of the adapter ofinvention;

Figure '3 is apartial horizontal section take L along the-line 111 -1110! Fight-e2;

Figure 4 is'an enlarged plan view takenlsub stantially along the lineIV-IV of Figure 1, parts being in section;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially along the lines VV of Figure2;

Figures 6 and 7 are respectivelyplan and elevational views showing theconstructional defitils of the hub-plate of the adapter of inven- Figure8 is a section taken substantially along the line VIIIVIII of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a section taken substantially along the line IX-IX of Figure2; and

Figure 10 is a section through the trumpetshaped end of slideable memberof the adapter showing its internal configuration.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in each of theviews of the drawings.

In its present embodiment, the invention is shown for the purposes ofexposition in combination with a coke oven battery of the by-producttype having horizontally extending coking cham-' bers with verticallydisposed heating flues and doors, for closing and sealing said chambers,that are of the so-called self-sealing type, but it is understood thatthe invention is not intended to be limited to such application for itis obvious that the improvement is useful with all types of cokingretort ovens and doors therefor that have latch-screws which are adaptedfor substantially direct engagement and actuation by a rotatable shaftor its equivalent.

In Figure 1 the coking chamber I 8 is closed and sealed at the end bydoor II which is supported in the chamber by means of latching devicespositioned adjacent the upper and lower part of the door, each suchlatching device comprising essentially, bracket I2, threaded pin [3,

latch-hooks l4 that are afiixed to ribs l5 of the jamb face-plates l6,and'the substantially rigid latch-bar H which is rotatably mounted onthreaded pin i3 and is adapted both to span the oven door transverselyand to engage the latchhooks that are located adjacent either side ofthe oven door but independently thereof. Bracket [2 is provided with abore l8 having threads that are arranged to co-act with those of thethreaded section of pin [3. These co-acting threads serve not only asmeans for mounting the latch-bar on the door but also as a means ofproviding the same with movement in a plane perpendicular of the door,so that its position in respect thereof can be adjusted as desired tobring said latch-bar into or out of contact with the latch-hooks; thatis, as is obvious, proper rotation of the threaded pin will advance thelatch-bar away from the face of the door and into contact with thelatch-hooks, if said latchbar has been previously so rotated on pin l3as to assume a substantially horizontal position between latch-hooks l4adjacent each end thereof, and the pressure resulting from such contactwill support the door in the mouth of the oven and cause the adjustablesealing-edge 28, which extends around the entire periphery of the door,.

pusher side of the ovenflis mounted on the same supporting structure(not shown) as the pusherram employed to push the coke from the oven,and is provided with bumper-pin 26, that is adapted to engagebumper-plate 21 on the face of the door,'and with door-hook 28 that isdisposed to engage the hook-plate 29 by vertical movement around theshaft 38, said door-hook being adapted to support the door and withdrawit from the mouth of the oven when ram 25 is backed away from the faceof the battery and after the latch-bars have been removed fromengagement with their latch-hooks;

The improved a paratus, for actuating coke oven door latching devices,is shown in Figure I mounted on the door ram; there are two suchapparatus for each door, the one being arranged to operate the upperseries of latches and the other the lower series of latches at one faceof the battery of ovens. The upper and the lower mechanisms, areattached to the head of the door-ram respectively by stand 33- andbracket 34.

Electric motor 35 and speed-reducer 36 serve to rotate the adapterassembly 31 of the invention, which is shown in constructional detail inFig. 2. Assembly 31 is aflixed to and supported by the low-speed shaftof the speedreducer and is adapted to transfer energy therefrom in theform of rotary motion to threaded pin l3 of the latching means to turnit by engagement therewith, and whether or not the shafts of thespeed-reducer and the pin are-in accurate alignment.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4-, low-speed shaft 38 ofspeed-reducer 36 supports adapter" assembly 31, which is fixedly mountedthereon by key 39. The hub-plate 48 and the bellshaped-part 4| arejoined together by bolts 42 andform a housing for a coupling of the universal joint type through which the shaft-like member 43 can be rotatedfreely by the speedreducer shaft 38 even at such times as said twomembers are in relative misalignment. plate 40 is shown in detail inFigures 6, 7. It is provided with aperture 44 whereby it is mounted onshaft 38 and also with drilled yoke-forming arms 45 provided preferablywith bearings of the oilless type which serve to support thetrunnion-ring 46 by means of pins 41. Shaftlike member 43, at thatend-positioned in said housing, is provided with two diametricallyopposed arms 48 whereby it is also rotatably mounted on trunnion-ring 46at points intermediate those at which said ring is mounted on thehubplate. The trunnion-ring therefore serves as a coupling between shaft38 and member 43 and permits of angular motion in every direction whenrotary motion of shaft 38 is being transmitted to said member 43.

To the end that shaft-like member43 will return to a position inalignment with reducershaft 38, after an operating interval, and willnot drop in consequence of its own weight to assume an angular'positionin respect of the latch-pins or the speed-reducer shaft 38, helicalsprings 49 are positioned in the housing, formed by parts 48, 4!, andare disposed in alternation with the trunnions of trunnion-ring 48 insuch manner ;that they exert sufllcient pressure against'theHubuniversal joint assembly, so as to avoid needless vibration when thesupporting apparatus is moved along the battery front. Removable lugs 58are furnished with a threaded section at one end for mounting them onboth hub-plate 40 and member 43, where they serve to retain springs 49in their preferred positions by protruding into the coils thereof-asshown.

Shaft-like member 43 is hollow with a smooth inner surface and slideablemember is adapted to move backward and forward over this surface. Thesetwo members are keyed together by means of the key 62, as shown inFigure 9, which is held in a groove of said slideable member 5| byscrews 53, said key being also adapted to slidingly fit in the keyway 64of the hollow member. This construction permits member 5| to move freelylengthwise of 43 but prevents its rotating therein. Helical spring 52 isarranged co-axially inside said members, as shown, and is designed'to bekept under pressure so that after the application and release of anexternal force sumcient to compress said spring, member 5!! will beforced outward thereby and returned to pressure-contact againstperforated plate 53 which serves to close the interior of the shaftlikemember and to retain the slideable member therein. 'Yieldable sealingmaterial 53 extends around the periphery of the perforation of plate 53to render the interior of 33 fluid-tight so that lubrication media canbe retained therein for facilitating the movement of the part 5i.Openings 55, 5t, and plug 571 are provided for the introduction of thelubrication medium. Pipe 58 serves as a means for equalizing pressurebetween the atmosphere and the space enclosed by the members 43 and 5|,and ducts 58 allow lubricant'to flow outward from said closed space tolubricate all portions of the sliding surface.

' The outer end 58 of member 5i is trumpetshaped; that portion thereofhaving the greatest diameter being toward the oven side. The finial oflatch-pin i3, is formed as a cone. The special configurations of thelatch-pin and of section tt promote facility of engagement therebetween;the trumpet-shaped section is provided, around its inner surface at M,with flat areas that are disposed to slide over the beveled surfaces 22of the latch-pin, as shown in Figure 5, these surfaces co-acting toturnthe latch-pin when the adapter assembly is rotated by shaft 38.

The section W of member 5| may be of any desired diameter but it shouldpreferably be adequate to allow the termini of all the latchpins of acorresponding series of latching devices to enter therein irrespectiveof the amount of misalignment that they may exist between speed-reducershaft 38 and the various latchpins. The misalignment of these two partsis subject to a certain amount of regulation; for explay allotted to thedoor-hook 28 in hook-plate 28, and to bumper-pin 26 in the bumper-plate31!, assists in reducing the variation in horizontal misalignment. Inthose oven batteries where the latch-pins have a diameter of 1%", it hasbeen determined that if the inside diameter of the trumpet-shapedelement at its outer edge is approximately 3%" there is no difliculty inengaging all the latch-pins of a corresponding series along the face ofa battery that is given proper maintenance. It is of'course obvious thatthe proportions of this element may be changed or enlarged to meet aspecific application thereof without departing from the spirit of theinvention and in such instances it may be necessary to provide atrunnion-ring that can be operated at greater angularity to the shaft38.

In the operation of the invention, the ram 25 of the door machine ismoved toward the oven door about to be removed from its coking chamber,and it carries with it the latch-operating assemblies of which each'isprovided with an "adapter 3'! constructed according to the invention.The adapters 31 and the bumper-pin 28 are preferably so disposed inrespect of each other that as the bumper-pin is engaging withbumper-plate 21, the pointed end of latch-pin i3 is entering thetrumpet-shaped section 88 of the adapter. If the beveled surfaces 22 ofthe latch-pin and the similar co-acting surfaces 6! of thetrumpet-shaped section are in proper alignment for immediate engagement,in which disposition they are shown in Figures 2, 8, said latch-pin willslide into engagement with said slideable member directly to assume theposition shown in said figures, and without causing any movement of 5|in member 33 or effecting movement of the trunnions of the universaljoint. Door-hook 28 is then raised to engage hook-plate 28 by rotatingit around shaft 30. Thereafter motors 35 of the latch-actuatingassemblies may be set into rotation in a direction that will cause theassociated speed-reducer shafts 38 and the thereon mounted adapters toturn latch-pins it as required for moving the latch-bars i'i out ofcontact with door-hooks it, after which operation the latch-bars arefree to be rotated around pin i3 in the plane of the door therebydisengaging them from the latch-hooks: the then unlatched door may belifted upwards slightly by main-the case, the many advantages offered by'will tend to slide over each other easily. After the'latch-pin' andsection 68 of the adapter have thus come into contact in such relativemisalignment and the .door machine is thereafter moved closer to thedoor, the member 5| and shaftlike member 43 will be forced to moveeither vertically or horizontally or both by corresponding movement ofthe latter around the trunnions of the trunnion-ring, thereby movingsection 88 and pin l3 into such alignment that they may engage. In theevent that the bevels 22 of pin |3 are not so disposed in respect ofbevels 6| that they will immediately slide over each other and assumesubstantially the same relative be forced to slide within member 43backwards from the face of the door while at the same time compressingspring 52. Subsequent rotation of speed-reducer shaft 38 and the thereonmounted positions shown in Figure 2, said member 5| will adapter willbring said bevels 22, 8|, into positions for engagement and registrationwhereupon the pressure exerted by spring 52 will force the adapter ontothe latch-pin.

The latch-actuating assembly and the adapter of the invention are sodisposed, according to the improvement, that the adapter is adapted toremain in engagement with the latch-pin during the time the oven door isremoved from the coking chamber and while supported by the doorhook ofthe door machine, thus advantageously facilitating speedy re-latching ofthe door following its return to the oven. The oven door is heavy andduring the operations of removing and restoring it to the oven, smallmovements thereof may be occasioned by the flexibility of the springs ofthe door-hook and the bumper, and which may prevent the door beingrigidly supported by said members. Such movements would normally cause astrain on a rigid adapter, but withthe adapter of the presentimprovement, its special construction automatically 'compensates for ashifting of the door; that is, horizontal and vertical motion will betaken up both by the universal joint member and by appropriate movementof slideable member 5| in member 43. The motors 35 are adapted to rotatein clockwise and counterclockwise directions so that one direction ofrotation may be employed to loosen the latches and the other directionused to tighten them. The motors may also be included. if preferred, insuch electrical circuits as are adapted to stall the motors when apreferred torque on the latch-pin has been established or a preferredpressure has been set up between the oven door and its co-actingdoor-frame. Such an electrical system has been disclosed in theco-pending application of one of us filed in the U. S. Patent Office onMay 1, 1936, and assigned S/N 77,311, now Patent No. 2,123,521 grantedJuly 12, 1938.

In the above given description, the present improvement has beendescribed for employment in combination with an electrical motor, but itis not intended to limit the use of the invention to such actuatingmeans since other sources of power such as steam, or hydraulic or airpressure can also be utilized.

In the following claims it will be understood that any device orassembly of parts adapted to couple two shafts together in such manneras to permit angular rotation in all directions and through whichcoupling device or assembly rotary motion may be transmitted from theone shaft to the other, are intended to come within the intent and scopeof the expression universal joint.'

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied *in particular formand manner but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claimshereinafter made.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for mechanically actuating a coke oven door latch havinga rotatable part for operating said latch to tighten and loosen it, thecombination comprising: a driving shaft in at least approximatealignment with'the 'ro-- tatable part of the door latch; means forrotating said driving shaft; and an adapter device for effectivelytransmitting rotary motion from said driving shaft to the rotatable partof the latch even though misalignment may exist therebetween, saidadapter device comprising: universal joint means adapted for connectionwith the driving shaft; a hollow shaft-like member supported by saiduniversal joint means; and within 7 and said clutching means intosuitable alignment the engagement-directing means comprising a portionof said element having inclined walls that flare outwardly from theclutching means towards the door latch and which walls are adapted forthe sliding therealong of the door-latch rotatable I part, so that itspressure thereagainst will move the shaft-like member on its universaljoint.

means to align said rotatable part and the clutching means thereforduring the moving of the latch-actuating apparatus into operatingstation.

3. In apparatus for mechanically actuating a coke oven door latch havinga rotatable part for operating said latch to tighten and loosen it thecombination of a driven rotatable shaft positionable in front of therotatable part of the door latch in approximate alignment therewith, ofan adapter for compensating misalignments adapted to connect the drivenshaft with the rotatable door-latch part, said adapter comprising ashaftlike member engageable with the rotatable doorlatch part to operatethe same and joint means universally joining the shaft like member andthe driven rotatable shaft, said joint means comprising a trunnion-ringand a pair .of yokes each that is adapted to move longitudinally thereofunder the influence of a resilient part, the outer end of the slidablemember' having engagementdlrecting means and clutching means forengaging the rotatable door-latch part, said engagement-directing meanscomprising an element having inclined walls that flare outwardly fromthe clutching means towards the door latch, said inclined walls beingadapted to permit the sliding therealong of the rotatable door-latchpart so' that the pressure thus. established therebetween will serve tomove the shaft-like member about the trunnion ring and align theclutching means and said door-latch part for engagement during themoving of the door-latch actuating device into operating station.

5. A device as in claim Band in which means are provided for restrictingand modifying the movements of the yoke members and the trunnion ring inrespect of each other so that said parts are returned to a predeterminedneutral position subsequent to an interval of operation, said meanscomprising: resilient means adapted to exert pressure on the shaft-likemember at such times as the arms of the yoke members are rotated aboutthe trlmnion ring in excess of a predetermined amount.

6. A device as in claim 3 arm in which means are provided forrestricting and modifying the movements of the yoke members and thetrunnion ring in respect of each other so that said parts are returnedto a predetermined neutral position subsequent an interval of operation,said means comprising: spring means that are disposed in alternationwith the trunnions of the trunnion ring and are arranged to exertpressure on the shaft-like member at such times as the arms of the yokemembers are rotated about the trunnion ring in excess of a predeterminedamount.

7. In apparatus for actuating coke oven door latches, in combination: adriving element positioned on a door handling mechanism adapted to beperiodically stationed in front of the oven door; a: door latch assemblyhaving nut means; a driven member that .is provided with means forclutching that portion of the door latch assembly which is adapted tooperate the door latch and also with a cup-like part, positioned betweenthe clutching means and the door, that is resiliently slidable along thedriven member and is disposed to receive said operating-portion of thelatch assembly and directionally guide it into engagement with theclutching means; and coupling means for universally jointing the drivingelement with the driven member in such manner that they are capable'ofmutual rotation and whether or not they are in angular displacement.

8. 29 apparatus for actuating coke oven door latches, in combination: arotatable housing positioned on a-mechanism adapted to be periodicallystationed in front of the oven door, said housing having oppositelydisposed trunnions and a trunnion-ring therefor connected by radiallyextending pins, a hollowshaft extending outwardly of the housing andhaving oppositely disposed trunnions connected with the trunnion-ring byradially extending pins intermediate the trunnion connections for thehousing; spring means interposed between the housing and the hollowshaft for maintaining the hollow shaft in operative position, anoperating element for rotatively tightening and untightening a coke ovendoorlatch part, said operating element being reciprocally mountedrelative to the hollow shaft and having an outer engaging portion foroperatively engaging the door-latch part to be operated and an innertubular supporting portion, the inner tubular supporting portion beingslidably keyed to the hollow shaft on the interior of the same andforming therewith a closed lubricant chamber, spring means insaidchamber urging the hollowehaft and inner tubular portion apart, apressure equalizer tube connecting the closed chamber with theatmosphere, and ducts in the, inner tubular portion connecting theclosed chamber with the space between the forward end of the innertubular portion and the forward end of the hollow shaft.

9. In apparatus for actuating coke oven door latches. in combination: arotatable housing positioned on a mechanism adapted to be periodicallystationed in front of the oven door, said housing having oppositelydisposed trunnions and a trunnion-ring therefor connected by radiallyextending pins, a hollow shaft extending outwardly of the housing andhaving oppositely disposed trunnions connected with the trunnion-ring byradially extending pins intermediate the trunnion connections for thehousing, spring means interposed between the housing and the hollowshaft for maintaining the hollow shaft in operative position, anoperating element for rotatively tightening and untightening a coke ovendoora latch part, said operating element being reciprocally mountedrelative to the hollow shaft and having an outer engaging portion foroperatively engaging the door-latch part to be operated and an innertubular supporting portion, the inner tubular supporting portion beingslidably keyed to the hollow shaft on the interior of the same andforming therewith a closed lubricant chamber, spring means in saidchamber urging the hollow shaft and inner tubular portion apart. and apressure equalizer tube connecting the closed chamber with theatmosphere.

1!). In apparatus for actuating coke oven door latches, in combination:a rotatable housing positioned on a mechanism adapted to be periodicallystationed in front of the oven door, said housing having oppositelydisposed trunnions and a trunnion-ring therefor connected by radiallyextending pins, a hollow shaft extending outwardly of the housing andhaving oppositely disposed trunnions connected with the trunnion-ring byradially extending pins intermediate the trunnion connections for thehousing, spring means interposed between the housing and the hollowshaft for maintaining the hollow shaft in operative position, anoperating element for rotatively rocally mounted relative to the hollowshaft and having an outes engaging portion for operatively engaging thedoor-latch part to be operated and an inner tubular supporting portion,the inner tubular supporting portion being slidably keyed to the hollowshaft on the interior of the same and forming therewith a closedlubricant chamwith the trunnion-ring by radially extending pins; thetrunnion connections for the hollow shaft being angularly disposed withrespect to the trunnion connections for the rotatable housing; a pistonfor rotatively engaging a' coke oven door-latch part to be operatedthereby, said piston being retractably mounted in the hollow shaft;andflexiblemeans for maintaining the hollow shaft in normally elevatedrelation relaigt'iva tdfthe axis of rotation of the rotatable housmg. rI

' 12. In apparatus for actuating coke ovendoor latches, in combination:a rotatable element positioned on a mechanism adapted to be periodicallystationed in front of the oven door, said housing having oppositelydisposed trunnions; a trunnion-ring therefor connected therewith byradially extending pins and freely encircling the axis of rotation ofthe rotatable element; a shaft extending outwardly from. said rotatableelement having means atits outer portion for operatively engaging a cokeoven door-latch part to be rotated by the rotatable element, and havingat its inner portion oppositely disposed trunnions connected with thetrunnion-ring by radially extending pins; the trunnion connections forthe shaft being angularly disposed with respect to the trunnionconnections for the rotatable element; and means for normallymaintaining the shaft in enter clutching engagement'therewith, andjoint,

means for universally jointing the driven rotatable shaft with theshaft-like member for reciprocal rotation under relative angulardisplacement when the shaft-like member is'misaligned with respect tothe tightening device during cooperation of the'lifting means with thelift on the respective doors.

14. In a coke oven door handling machine adapted to lift, remove andreplace bodily the doors of a battery of horizontal coke ovens, eachdoor being provided with a door latch, a rotatable tightening devicetherefor, and a lift for a door lifting means on the machine; anactuating means for said door latch comprising a driven rotatable shaftand a shaft-like member in approximate alignment with the rotatabletightening devices of the several ovens and adapted to enter clutchingengagement therewith,- and joint means comprising a trunnion-ring and apair of yokes having spaced arms adapted to be journaled to thetrunnion-ring, and of which yokes the one is adapted to be fixedlyconnected with the driven rotatable shaft of the door machine and theother disposed to support the shaft-like member provided with theclutching means for universally jointing the driven rotatable shaft withthe shaft-like member for reciprocal rotation under relative angulardisplacement when the shaft-like member is misaligned with respect tovvthe tightening device during cooperation of the lifting means with thelift on the respective doors.

15. In a coke oven door handling machine adapted to lift, remove-andreplace bodily the doors of a battery of horizontal coke ovens, eachdoor being provided with a door latch, a rotatable tightening devicetherefor, and a lift for a door lifting means on the machine; anactuating means for said door latch comprising a driven rotatable shaftand a shaft-like member in approximate alignment with the rotatabletightening devices of the several ovens and adapted with relativeangular displacementwhen the shaftlike member is misaligned with respectto the tightening device during cooperation of the lifting means withthe lift on the respective doors.

, 16. In a coke-oven door-handling carriage for actuating the doorlatches of a batteryof horizontal coke ovens, each door latch beingprovided with a rotatable device for operating the door latch to tightenand loosen it, a power driven reversible motor and a driven shafttherefor, a wrench in axial alignment with the driven shaft forrotatively engaging the rotatable devices of the respective doors, saidelements being so mounted on the carriage that when positioned in frontof the respective doors the wrench may be advanced relative to thecarriage into position for cooperative rotary engagement oithe wrenchwith the tightening devices of the latch upon actuation of the motor,and said wrench being connected with the driven shaft for rotationthereby by means of a universal joint to accommodate variedirregularities in alignment of tightening devices of the respectivedoors of the battery'of ovens with respect to the position of the wrenchin its normal axial alignment with the driven shaft therefor.

17. In a coke oven door handling machine adapted to remove andreplace'bodily the doors of a battery of horizontal coke ovens, eachdoor being provided with a latch constituted of nutmeans and a-lockingbar and attaching means for a door lifting hook, an actuator for saidlatch comprising a power-driven universal joint mounted socket wrenchadapted to rotatably engage said nut means to tighten and to releasesaid nut and latch.

RAGNAR BERG. ROBERT W. CRIS'I.

